Feature

Optical engineering challenges of the IBM 3800 laser printer: Part II

Milt R. Latta

Last month, I described some of the optical design challenges involved in developing the IBM 3800 laser printer. This month, we look at some of the manufacturing problems encountered in this program.
It's sometimes difficult to differentiate between where development ends and manufacturing begins (especially when some of the same people follow the problems through the process). But, in addition to the challenges that were addressed in the initial design stage of this printer development, a number of issues were raised at later stages.